Laos has said it cannot determine who was responsible for the deaths of six foreign tourists linked to methanol-tainted alcohol because no autopsies were conducted on the victims.
The Lao Ministry of Public Security said investigators lacked the forensic evidence needed to establish the exact cause of death or determine whether any individual could be held criminally responsible.
The victims a British national, two Australians, two Danish citizens and an American died in November 2024 after a night out in the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said “authorities did not have evidence to establish if the deaths were caused by the actions of any individual or by any particular cause, because no autopsies were conducted on the bodies.”
The ministry added that officials had been unable to carry out post-mortem examinations in 2024 and therefore lacked the forensic evidence necessary to determine the cause of death.
However, investigators said they found excessive levels of methanol in vodka produced by the distillery linked to the incident.
Earlier this week, authorities announced charges against the owner of the distillery for allegedly selling food products harmful to health and operating an illegal business. The charges do not relate directly to the deaths and carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of ÂŁ829 (US$1,100).
The decision drew criticism from Australia, whose government described the outcome as deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed and questioned why more serious charges had not been pursued. Australia’s foreign ministry subsequently summoned the Lao ambassador in Canberra.
The victims were identified as 28-year-old Briton Simone White, Australians Bianca Jones, 19, and Holly Morton-Bowles, 19, Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and 57-year-old American James Louis Hutson.
Australian media reported that the Australian Federal Police had offered to assist with the investigation but were not granted access by Lao authorities.
Investigators believe the victims consumed complimentary alcoholic shots contaminated with methanol, a highly toxic substance commonly used in industrial products such as paint thinner but sometimes illegally mixed with alcoholic drinks to reduce production costs.
Many of the victims had been staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where guests reportedly failed to check out after falling ill on November 13, 2024.
Earlier this year, 10 people connected to the hostel received suspended sentences and fines after pleading guilty to destroying evidence linked to the investigation.
Erizia Rubyjeana
